I spent Monday with Walsingham Planning Specialist Planning and Development Consultants. To start the morning off, I met with Roberta “Rob” obtaining a detailed background in the British planning system, particular from a private consultant’s perspective. I then had the privilege of sharing a cappuccino with Emma at Costa, a local chain coffee shop that is seeking to remove a condition of planning approval in order to increase seating capacity in the café. Being able to walk out into the community and see Knutsford from a professional perspective, rather than a tourist’s view, was interesting and insightful. Mike, a planner on staff with Walsingham, then oriented me to the Planning Portal, which is the online application submittal program used to submit planning applications to local authorities. Such an electronic application format certainly reduces the amount of paper necessary but does not eliminate the need for hard copies. Nonetheless, given I’m the “tree hugger” of our planning office, I was appreciated the electronic filing program.

It’s interesting to note that our friends here on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean endure the impacts of “nimbyism” and traffic congestion and incompatible infill (for my British friends – unsympathetic development schemes within conservation areas). Folks of the greater Manchester area face the same problems as we do in Gainesville-Hall County, Georgia…we just attack them in different ways.

Thank you Walsingham for a wonderful vocational experience and for sharing with me the “dark” side of the planning world! You all were great hosts for the day!

http://www.walsinghamplanning.co.uk/